RAF 107 MU KASFAREET 1949-56

As Remembered By James McCarthy

LIFE WITH 107 MU KASFAREET

In November 1948 I joined the RAF at Aldergrove, N. Ireland, aged 22. I was then sent to RAF Cardington but as they had too many recruits I was sent to RAF Melksham for my 12 weeks square-bashing. I lived in a Nissan hut where nights were spent stealing coke from the coke compound so that we could keep warm. I spent a fair amount of time in the cookhouse, washing greasy pans and peeling potatoes in the evenings..

My next move was to RAF Credenhill, Herts, and spent 12 weeks in Supply. After 2 weeks leave, I was sent to 5 PDU, RAF Hednesford, Staffs to await my posting to the Canal Zone. Aboard the Empress of Australia bound for Port Said. I was lucky enough to get a hammock, directly above the laundry (bliss in the Med in August!) At Port Said, I boarded a train which stopped at Ismailia where several were relieved of their watches – the locals cut the leather straps without any injuries!. Then it was on to Kasfareet where I was sent across the road to El Hamra and into transit for a week. Finally I was posted to 107MU Kasfareet where I was mis-employed as a Stock Control Clerk in P.S.C.O. (Provision Stock Control Office). I was lucky enough to live in a billet as opposed to a tent. The killer was guard duty every 3 days – 24 hours or 12 hours at a time.

We always had fun when an officer, fresh from the UK, would come along with no lights on their bikes – we had two ways of dealing with them – 1) let them climb the tower and stick a rifle in their face or 2) fire a shot and watch them fall off their bike – they would never do it again! Entertainment was drinking Stella beer in the NAAFI, the open air cinema, watching football and swimming in the Lido in the Bitter Lake.

In 1951 there was lots of trouble with the Egyptians. Troops and tanks moved up to the border. In Ismailia the Egyptian Police started shooting at the Army. There were lots of casualties and General Robinson brought the tanks in and blasted the building. The Army took most of the losses but the RAF also suffered losses too. Even in ‘peaceful’ times the MT drivers were attacked whilst delivering stores from 107MU to other units around the Zone. 107MU supplied all of East Africa (Rhodesia, Kenya, Sudan, the Middle East, Ceylon & Pakistan) with anything from a fuse to an aircraft engine.

On the lighter side, I enjoyed my leave in Alexandria (twice), Cairo and Cyprus. I survived my 2½ years but a lot of National Service 17 year olds did not. I remember one young man in a rubber dinghy with hand paddles rowing up the Bitter Lakes heading for the UK – he did eventually get there later under normal means!!

In February 1952, I boarded the Empress of Canada in the Bitter Lakes (Port Said had become too dangerous) for Liverpool – cabins – no more hammocks – what bliss! My next posing was 90 MU Warton, near Lytham St. Annes, Blackpool where I enjoyed 3 fabulous years. In December 1954 there was named postings to close down the Zone. My friend was one of them so we took him out to get him drunk thankful that it was not me. Six weeks later I got the bad news – I was going back to 107MU – my turn to cry in my beer.

This time my accommodation was a tent complete with a storm lantern. I was put in charge of the packing bay – a reasonable job. The Padre was bothering men to go on a Moral Leadership Course in Jerusalem for 2 weeks so off I went. We had 2 Irish priests – one liked a drink, the other was teetotal.

Later I joined the auction site under 205 Group selling off everything that was not being sent to Cyprus or the UK. In September 1955 I was sent to RAF Ismailia to expedite the clearance of the married quarters. A cosy arrangement existed between the OC Supply and his compatriots to hang around for as long as possible as it was very civilised there with flush toilets etc and we were able to go into town.

My next move was 20 Movements, Port Said – still on the auction site. My hardest job was reporting what the Egyptians had stolen overnight. We used to go on the Clan Line ships for a booze-up and they were entertained in our Mess. My friend and I were going into Port Said one evening as there was no UK beer in our Mess. There was a Navy ship in port with whistle blowing but we took no notice and just kept on walking but an Army 2nd Lt came running after us stating that we were supposed to stand still. Our answer was that we were RAF and knew nothing about navy habits and carried on our way. He must have told his Sgt Major, who told our Warrant Office but we kept very quiet about the incident.

Towards the end we went to live in Trinity House (Lloyds) but after that it all went downhill. Another Sgt and I lived in an aircraft packing case wired up for electricity and water! We finally left on 15th May 1956. I was due for de-mob in October so assumed I would be going back to the UK – Worse was to follow – I was sent to 116 MU Mafraq in Jordan – what a dust bowl. Eventually de-mobbed 12th December 1956 – 2 months late!!

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